Blues have it all to do again after stalemate
Stamford .......................... 0 Leek Town ....................... 0
LEEK Town were forced to yet another replay after their FA Trophy first qualifying round tie at Stamford ended in a 0-0 draw.
The replay, set to take place last night, will be the fourth replay in five ties in FA Competitions this season and means the postponement of yet another league match.
Lewis Short returned to the starting line-up at leftback while manager Neil Baker opted to replace the suspended Marc Grocott with Charlie Walford in midfield.
It was a miserable, cold day and shortly before kick-off driving rain started which lasted the duration of the game making conditions very difficult for all involved.
However, the first opening came in the 11th minute when a scramble in the Blues’ sixyard box presented Jordon Cooke with a chance that was cleared off the line by Niall Green.
On 19 minutes, Jordan Johnson had a glorious opportunity as an error in the Daniels defence presented him with the ball and only Danny Haystead in the Stamford goal to beat but he put his effort wide of the post.
There was little other action of note in the first half and the second period was only marginally better.
Reece Morris worked himself a good position in the 56th minute but fired over the crossbar when he should have at least tested Danny Roberts.
On 71 minutes Walford had a chance but he fired across goal, before Blues’ supporters had something to cheer about when Tim Grice made a welcome return from injury as a substitute.
Six minutes later Stevenson was brought down on the edge of the box, Johnson stepped up to take the free-kick which was brilliantly tipped over by Haystead.
A quick break to the other end saw Jake Duffy’s goalbound effort blocked by Short and the home side had one late chance when Cooke headed wide from a corner.
In truth, it was a poor game probably due at least in part to the dreadful conditions and a goalless draw always looked on the cards from early on, so the £3,250 prize money remains up for grabs on Tuesday evening.
BLUES: Roberts, Green, Short, Walford, Lycett, Chadwick, Reeves, Hall, Johnson (maguire89), Bott (Grice 71) Stevenson, Unused subs: Bavanganga, Hurd, Chapman.
ATTENDANCE: 176
Leek Town ....................... 5 Newcastle Town .............. 3
LEEK Town scored five for the second game in succession as they beat Newcastle Town 5-3 in the First Round of the Integro Cup.
The tie was effectively over by half-time as Leek breezed into a 4-1 lead, but Castle kept going and scored a couple of late goals to put an air of respectability to the final score.
Manager Neil Baker took the opportunity to give some of his squad who had not figured so much recently some game time as he made five changes to the side that won at Loughborough Dynamo.
Castle took the lead after four minutes when a good move down the right was finished off with a neat low finish from Rod Orlando-young.
Blues then hit back with a stunning four goal salvo in just 26 minutes.
Aaron Bott started things off when he equalised on 13 minutes when he lifted the ball over Matt Johnson in the Castle goal from close range.
Bott was on target again five minutes later when he had the easy job of tapping home at the far post following Rob Stevenson’s excellent low cross from the left.
It was 3-1 in the 21st minute as Castle failed to clear a corner and Charlie Walford smashed home the loose ball from eight yards for his first goal for the club.
Six minutes before the break Bott turned provider as he won the ball on the right and crossed low for Stevenson to tuck the ball away.
Castle improved after the break but went further behind in the 64th minute when a dreadful defensive error presented the ball to Jordan Johnson and he slotted home from 12 yards.
James Steele pulled a goal back for the visitors nine minutes later when his low shot across Ben Chapman went in off the post.
Kyle Stubbs then wrapped up the scoring two minutes time with a spectacular 30yard strike into the top corner.
The League Cup may be a maligned competition, but this was an entertaining game between two sides who certainly looked like they were keen to progress to the next round.
Blues will be at home to Runcorn Linnets in the second round on a date to be confirmed.
BLUES: Chapman, Bavanganga, Leadbetter (Short 77), Grocott, Lycett, Chadwick, Maguire, Walford, Johnson, Bott (Hurd 67), Stevenson. Unused subs: Kearns, Hall, Roberts
ATTENDANCE: 155